A preliminary study of the pressure distribution in bipedal position using optical baropodometry and resistive force sensors

Abstract

The footprint is the anatomical structure that supports and transmits the soil’s reaction forces in the standing and human locomotion processes. Its study is essential for diagnosing different pathologies as well as its measurement is fundamental for selecting therapeutic plans and providing information on possible injury risks. This article describes the development of an optical system for the dynamic estimation of plantar pressures. We assessed the mean pressure in the heel and midfoot areas from two healthy subjects (male and female). The preliminary results show a correlation between the pressure measurements of the optical and electronic baropodometry techniques, concluding that our approach can be used to evaluate the distribution of the load on foot, under some limitations. © 2020, Associacao Iberica de Sistemas e Tecnologias de Informacao. All rights reserved.